Proper planting of cabbage seeds to obtain seedlings from A to Z

Hello, dear readers of growwise-en.techinfus.com! Cabbage is a capricious vegetable plant that requires careful care. Today we'll discuss when and how to sow cabbage to produce seedlings. Even the slightest mistake during cultivation can slow or even stop its growth. To prevent this, carefully follow the timing, planting instructions, transplanting the seedlings to their permanent location, and subsequent care.

The Importance of Taking into Account the Moon Phases

Gardeners believe that the waxing moon phase is when everything above ground actively grows: stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. All types of work are recommended, including planting and replanting, loosening the soil, fertilizing, and watering. Avoid pruning and grafting during this phase.

During the waning moon, everything underground—the root system, tubers, and bulbs—experiences active growth. Any soil manipulation—pricking out, digging, deep tillage, and other types of cultivation—is dangerous during this period. Removing weeds and thinning out dense seedlings is recommended.

There is a new moon and a full moon. During this phase, all living organisms are highly vulnerable. Any work with plants and any type of soil cultivation should be avoided. Pest control is an exception. Harvesting ripe fruits and berries is also recommended.

Conditions

The optimal ambient temperature for cabbage is 8 to 10 degrees Celsius at night and 12 to 14 degrees Celsius during the day. While achieving these temperatures indoors is easy, it won't be entirely comfortable, so it's best to sow the crop in dedicated outbuildings, on a glazed and insulated balcony, or in a heated greenhouse. Choose the right days based on the region, lunar calendar, variety, and final placement (indoors or outdoors).

By the moon

It is best to start planting when the Moon is waxing, excluding the days before and after the New Moon and Full Moon:

• February 12-22;
• March 12-23;
• April 10-22;
• May 10-21;
• June 8-20.

Unfavorable days:

• February: 9-11, 23-25;
• March 9-11, 24-26;
• April: 7-9, 23-25;
• May: 7-9, 22-24;
• June: 5-7, 21-23.

The remaining time periods are neutral, act at your own discretion.

By region

Actions should also be taken depending on the region and weather.

• In central Russia, planting takes place during March, and the same applies to Belarus.
• Northwest: mid-March to mid-April;
• Urals, Siberia, Far East - during April;
• the southern region, as well as Ukraine - from February 15 to the beginning of March.

By appearance

Today, there are more than 10 varieties of cabbage. The harvesting time for each is different.

Learn to focus on ripening speed. Early-ripening varieties typically ripen from March 10th to March 30th, mid-season varieties from March 15th to April 15th, and late-ripening varieties from April 1st to April 20th. Carefully read the information on the seed package.

By type of cultivation

February and March are more suitable for growing seedlings on a windowsill indoors or in a heated greenhouse. As early as mid-April, they can be transplanted under plastic, and by the end of May, into the open ground.

Seeds can be sown in a greenhouse or cold frame no earlier than mid-April, only under favorable climatic conditions, where daytime temperatures have reached a stable 12 to 14 degrees Celsius. Transplant to a permanent growing location only when 3-4 true leaves have appeared.

From late April, you can plant seeds directly in the garden beds, where they will grow until the ripe fruit is harvested. It's recommended to choose early-ripening varieties so the cabbage has time to grow before the cold weather sets in. There's no need to transplant the seedlings to a permanent location.

The whole process step by step

The first step is choosing the species and variety. Purchase seeds only from specialized gardening stores; this will ensure you're purchasing high-quality products. When choosing, consider the climate of your region.

Be sure to check the packaging for integrity and the expiration date of its contents. Don't be fooled by cheap prices, discounts, and other such things; you'll end up losing more. As a rule, a good product costs a pretty penny.

Soil preparation

Plant the seeds only in light soil. It's best to purchase ready-made cabbage soil. If you need to make your own, mix equal parts sod, peat, and humus or sand.

Be sure to disinfect the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to remove pest eggs and fungal spores, thereby preventing possible damage and disease to the seedling.

Seed preparation

Remove the seeds from the packaging onto a flat surface. Inspect them for integrity and damage. Discard any defective ones immediately; they will not yield any results when planted.

Pre-treatment before deepening into the soil should be done as follows:

1. Harden off the seeds. Submerge them in cold water at 2 to 3 degrees Celsius and let them soak for 24 hours. This will speed up germination.
2. Place the seeds in a hot solution of potassium permanganate at a temperature of 50 degrees or more for 15 minutes.
3. After this, place it in cold water for 3 minutes.
4. Place on a cloth or paper towel to dry.

Only branded seeds do not require treatment. Before being packaged, they are treated with special substances, making them completely ready for planting.

Information about pre-treatment is provided on the packaging. These will be more expensive than untreated seed, but the chances of germination will be significantly higher.

Selecting containers

These can be peat pots or cups, plastic or wooden boxes, special containers, cut-off bottles—basically, anything. Wash and dry the containers first.

If other plants were previously grown in the container, disinfect it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and let it dry again. Only then can you fill it with soil.

Landing

It's recommended to sow the seeds directly into individual containers. This avoids the need for transplanting, which, if done incorrectly, can negatively impact the future harvest. However, you can also plant them in a single container. This process consists of several steps:

1. Make holes in the soil no more than 1 cm deep. The distance between each seed should be no more than 1-2 cm.
2. Place the seeds deep and cover them with soil.
3. Cover the container with a thick film until the first shoots appear, then remove it.

Grow the plant at temperatures between 12 and 20 degrees Celsius. Initially, place it in a dark place; after the seedlings appear, in 4-5 days, you can move it to a windowsill. However, avoid direct sunlight to avoid damaging the green foliage.

Care

To ensure a good harvest, begin caring for the seeds as soon as they're planted. Failure to do so will result in wilted and fragile seedlings.

First, install a grow light and ensure at least 12 hours of daylight. Also, keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering, as overwatering will encourage fungus and pests. Dry soil is also harmful to seedlings.

Fertilizing cabbage is done in three stages as the seedling grows: first with a ready-made mineral mixture of low concentration, then with an ash solution and herbal infusion. All types of fertilizer for specific varieties can be purchased at a gardening store. When using, follow the instructions on the product packaging.

Transfer to a permanent location

Cabbage can be transplanted to its permanent location for fruit ripening only after it has become established. Early varieties ripen 70-130 days after planting, mid-season varieties 125-175 days, and late varieties 153-245 days.

This is carried out in several stages:

1. It is recommended to fertilize the plant 1.5-2 weeks before this with a solution to increase the cold resistance of the plant, dissolving 4-6 g of potassium sulfate in 1 liter of water.
2. If you've been watering your cabbage daily, reduce the interval to once every 2-3 days before planting. Avoid watering the 24 hours before planting. This step is necessary to ensure easy removal from the pot or cup and reduce the risk of breakage.
3. Make holes in the soil according to a planting pattern of 45 x 20-25 cm, or 70 x 30-40 cm if you're planting in late May. If the variety requires a conical shape, planting intervals may be shorter.
4. Plant each seedling so that 1/3 of the soil remains above ground level. Avoid planting it too deep, as this will result in poor ventilation of the lower leaves, increasing the risk of disease and pest infestation.
5. Water it at the rate of 2-5 liters of liquid per 1 square meter of soil.

To improve seedling growth, follow these care guidelines. Water regularly—up to 3 times a week.

Make sure the leaves are free of insects and signs of damage. If necessary, treat the plant with a chemical, such as Decis or Karate, which are available at garden supply stores. Be sure to follow the instructions.

Be sure to feed your cabbage. During the initial stages of growth in open ground, apply a nitrogen-based fertilizer. Once the head begins to form, it begins to need phosphorus and potassium. At the same time, perform the initial hilling to better anchor the plant in the soil.

Common mistakes

Sometimes, even with proper planting and care, a good harvest cannot be achieved. This is because the gardener has made one of the following mistakes:

1. I planted the seedlings too close together. They began to shade each other, causing them to stretch and die.
2. Overwatering. Excessive moisture leads to the most common cabbage disease, blackleg. Watering with cold water, preferably left to stand indoors or outdoors, also leads to this problem.
3. Violating the temperature regime during cultivation leads to slower seedling growth.
4. Dry indoor air. This is unacceptable for any type of plant; installing a humidifier is recommended.